The Nets put in another good effort, but once again, they fell a possession short against a good team at the Prudential Center, falling to the Thunder 123-120 in triple-overtime.
With both Kevin Durant and Devin Harris out, it was an ugly game for the most part. The Thunder led by nine going into the fourth, but the Nets came back to take the lead with two minutes to go. The lead went back and forth after that and Russell Westbrook put the Thunder up three with a pair of free throws with 1.5 seconds left, but Anthony Morrow hit a running three at the buzzer to send the game to overtime.
The Nets went up six midway through the first OT, but they went scoreless on their final four possessions of the period. Westbrook tied the game with a jumper with 19 seconds on the clock and the Nets could only get a long Lopez jumper that fell way short at the buzzer.
The Nets led by three with in the final seconds of the second OT, but Stephen Graham fouled Jeff Green on a three with 4.6 on the clock. Green made all three free throws and Jordan Farmar missed a potential game-winner at the buzzer.
Westbrook then took over in the third OT, scoring all 13 of the Thunder's points in the period. The Nets had a chance to tie on their final possession, but James Harden knocked away Farmar's pass for Morrow in the corner, sealing the win.
Lopez had his first double-double of the season, scoring 28 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, but he made just seven of his 23 shots. Starting for Harris, Farmar was more efficient, scoring a career-high 28 points on 12-for-21 shooting, while dishing out nine assists. Morrow added 25 points and Kris Humphries grabbed 15 rebounds. Westbrook and Jeff Green combined for 75 points for the Thunder.
Three Nets --Farmar, Lopez and Morrow-- played more than 50 minutes, but Avery Johnson said the Nets will not be recalling Terrence Williams anytime soon.
- Boxscore - NBA.com
- Game Highlights (Video) - NBA.com
- Westbrook leads Thunder over Nets 123-120 in 3OTs - AP
- Thunder-Nets notebook - Jake Appleman - NBA.com
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Play of the Day: Russell Westbrook (Video) - NBA.com
- Nets lose a heartbreaker to Thunder in triple OT, 123-120 - Colin Stephenson - Star-Ledger
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Avery Johnson relishes news that Devin Harris injury not more serious - Colin Stephenson - Star-Ledger
- Stephen Graham foul dooms Nets in 123-120 triple-overtime loss to Thunder - Stefan Bondy - New York Daily News
- Scrappy Nets fall in 3-OT heartbreaker - Brian Lewis - New York Post
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No major damage on Harris' knee - Brian Lewis - New York Post
- Nets work overtime but to no avail - Steve Popper - The Record
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Nets notes: Williams stays in D-league - Steve Popper - The Record
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Westbrook does it over and over and over - ESPN
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Farmar should have gone with Option No. 2 - Chris Sheridan - ESPN New York
- Pre-Game: Billy King Interview (Video) - Jessica Taff - YES Network
- Post Game Plus (Video) - Nancy Newman - YES Network
- From the Booth (Video) - Ian Eagle & Jim Spanarkel - YES Network
- Brook Lopez Interview (Video) - Jessica Taff - YES Network
- Avery Johnson Press Conference (Video) - YES Network
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NETS: In Triple-OT, Farmar's 52-Minute Effort Isn't Enough - Ben Couch - New Jersey Nets
- Third overtime is a charm as Thunder beats Nets - John Rohde - Daily Oklahoman
- Thunder notes: Kevin Durant misses third start of season - John Rohde - Daily Oklahoman
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Game of the night: Russell Westbrook apparently really likes triple overtime - Kurt Helin